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Take Charge Lady Breezes Toward Oaks Start

Select Stable's Take Charge Lady put in a five-furlong breeze at Churchill Downs Friday as she prepares for her engagement in the May 3 Kentucky Oaks (gr. I). The bay daughter of Dehere completed the work in 1:00 2/5 under jockey Tony D'Amico.

"It was a piece of cake," D'Amico said. "Nice maintenance work. She's good as she's ever been, so we're on dead aim for everything."

Take Charge Lady completed her first quarter-mile in :23 1/5 and her subsequent quarter in :47 3/5.

Trainer Ken McPeek, who was hobbling on crutches after injuring his left ankle plating basketball Thursday night, picked out Michael Tabor's Bella Bellucci and Take Charge Lady as the top two fillies for the 1 1/8-mile Oaks.

"I think Bella Bellucci and my filly are the two horses that probably stand out in my mind," he said. "Maybe we have an edge because we've been two turns three times, but maybe we don't."

Take Charge Lady has won six of eight races, including three stakes races this year.